During my secondary teaching career I always enjoyed a special day I called " Friday lecture." My classes were very informal four days a week and I looked forward to imparting my words of wisdom for the entire period every Friday. I have been retired for over fifteen years and I still have a longing to ramble on about my personal philosophy.
Mr. Bunny was a part of my teaching "shtick". He was my alter ego and when students did not listen, I wrapped a handkerchief around my hand and became irascible Mr. Bunny. I know what your thinking - that was a very ridiculous antic for a high school teacher. However, it was a good attention getter.
Recently, I decided to give Mr. Bunny a little makeover. I figured that he needed a name and a title relevant to my interest. I am a closet existentialist and I particularly like reading Sartre. Dr. Jean-Paul Bunny was now the new Mr. Bunny.
He is now ready to lecture and pontificate on esoteric subjects in the area of art and philosophy. I don't know if he will be able to lecture every Friday by I hope he can find the time to impart some of his wisdom.
Lecture No. 1 Artist block
I am sick and tired of hearing and reading about "artist block". Discussion pages of blogs are full of dilettantes moaning and crying about the inability to create because they have "artist block."
What a crock! Art is simply doing stuff. Which is far better than not doing stuff. You have to get over the idea that art is about the product - it is about the process. The pursuit of an idea is the the life blood of creativity. Looking for ideas and motivations in all the nooks and crannies of the world is exciting. Opening doors and finding new ideas is the way to fill the mind with creative fodder. I reread Ben Shahn's book The Shape of Content (The Charles Eliot Norton Lectures) at least once a year to remind me that I have to open doors each day in order to keep the ideas flowing.
Wishing gets you nowhere; hard work does.
Dr. Jean-Paul Bunny PhD. Copyright 2008 © Ronald D. Isom, Sr.
Internet connections:
Ben Shahn at HarvardBen Shahn: Passion for Justice . Classroom PBS
Ben Shahn News & Articles on washingtonpost.com
Ben Shahn: Passion for Justice Video (CC) DVD/VHS -
ChangingSociety: Tom Joad
routine investigations: Yesterday
No Known Restrictions: Blind Street Musician by Ben Shahn, 1935 !
Mr. Bunny was a part of my teaching "shtick". He was my alter ego and when students did not listen, I wrapped a handkerchief around my hand and became irascible Mr. Bunny. I know what your thinking - that was a very ridiculous antic for a high school teacher. However, it was a good attention getter.
Recently, I decided to give Mr. Bunny a little makeover. I figured that he needed a name and a title relevant to my interest. I am a closet existentialist and I particularly like reading Sartre. Dr. Jean-Paul Bunny was now the new Mr. Bunny.
He is now ready to lecture and pontificate on esoteric subjects in the area of art and philosophy. I don't know if he will be able to lecture every Friday by I hope he can find the time to impart some of his wisdom.
Lecture No. 1 Artist block
I am sick and tired of hearing and reading about "artist block". Discussion pages of blogs are full of dilettantes moaning and crying about the inability to create because they have "artist block."
What a crock! Art is simply doing stuff. Which is far better than not doing stuff. You have to get over the idea that art is about the product - it is about the process. The pursuit of an idea is the the life blood of creativity. Looking for ideas and motivations in all the nooks and crannies of the world is exciting. Opening doors and finding new ideas is the way to fill the mind with creative fodder. I reread Ben Shahn's book The Shape of Content (The Charles Eliot Norton Lectures) at least once a year to remind me that I have to open doors each day in order to keep the ideas flowing.
Wishing gets you nowhere; hard work does.
Dr. Jean-Paul Bunny PhD. Copyright 2008 © Ronald D. Isom, Sr.
Internet connections:
Ben Shahn at HarvardBen Shahn: Passion for Justice . Classroom PBS
Ben Shahn News & Articles on washingtonpost.com
Ben Shahn: Passion for Justice Video (CC) DVD/VHS -
ChangingSociety: Tom Joad
routine investigations: Yesterday
No Known Restrictions: Blind Street Musician by Ben Shahn, 1935 !
Spiritual Growth Form
3 comments:
oooh la la monsieur rabbit, i do so like your beret and your profound wisdom...like nike says, DO IT!
"What a crock! Art is simply doing stuff."
I love this. People, especially artists, need this kind of no-nonsense reality check sometimes. We all get too bogged down in over thinking, laziness, and fear. Nothing a whack on the head from an existentialist bunny can't fix. :) Thank you!
Truly, it has never been said better than by the bunny. As an aspiring artist myself I have learned to stop worrying about knowing what you will make and just make. The creativity for me comes in the form of problem solving while working with your hands.
Artist Block = Thinking to hard about one thing and ignoring the influences that surround you.
Thanks Jean-Paul Bunny!
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